President Duterte appoints new Director for DOST-ASTI
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President Duterte appoints new Director for DOST-ASTI
15 April 2021 – President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has appointed a new Director for the DOST - Advanced Science and Technology Institute (DOST-ASTI). Dr. Franz Asunta de Leon, an Associate Professor at UP - Electrical and Electronics Engineering Institute (UPD-EEEI) will lead DOST-ASTI in implementing its research and development (R&D) programs and projects in the field of information and communications technology, microelectronics, and space technology.
Dr. de Leon has sworn into office on 15 April 2021 as the new director of DOST-ASTI. Together with him during his oath-taking ceremony were Secretary Fortunato de la Peña, DOST Undersecretary for Research and Development Rowena Cristina L. Guevara, and other DOST-ASTI officials. This was held at the DOST-ASTI Building in Diliman, Quezon City. He will be the ninth director to take over the role at the DOST-ASTI.
The new DOST-ASTI director is a graduate of BS Electronics and Communications Engineering and MS in Electrical Engineering at the University of the Philippines - Diliman in 2003 and 2005, respectively. He earned his Ph.D. in Electronic and Electrical Engineering at the University of Southampton in United Kingdom in 2014. During that time, he also served as part of the UP faculty for engineering students. With interests in Digital Signal Processing for Audio and Communications, he was involved in one of the collaborative projects of DOST-ASTI with UPD-EEEI as the project leader for the Development of a Philippine Indigenous Instrument Sounds Database, also known as KATUNOG (KAlipunan ng KaTUtubong TuNOG).
“During these challenging times, there is a need for solutions and applications that will uplift our spirits and help us adjust to the new normal. As the new DOST-ASTI Director, I want to make the Filipinos enjoy the benefits of innovative solutions in the field of ICT, Microelectronics and Space Technology. We will continue to work closely with our stakeholders to meet their expectations. We will also continue to invest not only in upgrading the facilities, but more importantly in our human resources to be agile and ready for the next generation technologies,” said Dr. de Leon on his appointment as Director.
DOST Secretary Fortunato de la Peña also shared a message to Dr. De Leon after his oath taking ceremony, "I wish to congratulate Dr. Franz Asunta de Leon on his appointment and on his assumption as Director of the DOST-ASTI. The field that has been assigned to ASTI is something that will really transform the Philippines, and so we expect a lot of innovations and transformations that will come out of ASTI. I count on ASTI to contribute not only to new knowledge generation, to new technology generation, but towards the support for more commercial technologies that will boost our initiatives towards being competitive in the region".
DOST-ASTI was recently headed by Dr. Joel Joseph Sacro Marciano Jr. (now Director-General for Philippine Space Agency) as the Acting Director from 08 March 2016 until 04 March 2020. More than a year later, Dr. de Leon succeeded the position as the new Director of DOST-ASTI thru an appointment from Malacañan Palace on 30 March 2021.
About DOST-ASTI
Established in 1987 by Executive Order No. 128, the Advanced Science and Technology Institute (ASTI) is an attached agency of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) that undertakes scientific research and development and technology transfer in the advanced fields of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), computing, electronics, and their applications. The DOST-ASTI continues to dedicate itself to developing and delivering technology solutions to enable a productive, globally competitive, and resilient Filipino society.
Photo Credits: Enrico P. Belga Jr., Information Officer II (Department of Science and Technology - Office of the Secretary)
Press Contacts
Anna Asunto
Project Administrative Officer III, DOST-ASTI
(632) 9174549068
media@asti.dost.gov.ph
Nicole Chavez
Project Administrative Officer III, DOST-ASTI
(632) 9171164719
media@asti.dost.gov.ph
